Emergency Relief Fund for Brizill and Imhoff
c/o PNC Bank
800 17th St. NW Washington, DC 20006
4 June 2012
Dear …
There are people among us who are engaged in the hard and critical work of building community. Theyadvocate public policy that empowers citizens. They tackle, directly, debilitating socio-economicconditions. They teach the disenfranchised and disillusioned how to battle government neglect andabuse. And, most important, they inspire us to cross real or imagined boundaries so that we may know,trust and appreciate each other as neighbors.These individuals do not seek reward, award or remuneration. Creating a better quality of life foreveryone
—
their neighbors-- is their greatest satisfaction.
Dorothy Brizill and Gary Imhoff are such people. They exemplify the best in civic leadership.
For the past thirty years, they have dedicated themselves
—
time, energy, talents and money
—
toimproving communities throughout the District of Columbia.
It doesn’t matter where you live, you or
your neighbors surely have benefited from their tireless work.
“Dorothy Brizill and Gary Imhoff are as essential to the District of Columbia as air,”
The Washington PostColumnist Colbert I. King said recently
. “Go
vernment accountability and vigorous oversight of public
service would virtually evaporate without them.”
Robert Brannum, president emeritus of the D.C. Federation of Civic Associations, noted that,
“Through
[Dorothy
’s
and Gary’s]
selfless service, citizens of the District have been informed about what has been
happening beyond the headlines and official government press releases.”
This time, Dorothy and Gary need our help.
Last month, a two-alarm fire engulfed their Columbia Heights home, totally destroying everything --computers, clothing, books, art, and precious memorabilia. Equally devastating, Gary and Dorothy lostfiles, records and photographs detailing thirty years of history and public policy debate in the District.Adding to this pain and injury, their insurance company has refused, thus far, to honor their claim.In the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors, a group of us met to consider how we could aid Dorothyand Gary in this time of loss and grief. They have contributed so much-- enriching our lives and our city.Given their dire situation, we decided to establish an emergency relief fund.
Please make a donation of whatever you can afford to this fund today. All contributions of anyamount will be gladly accepted and greatly appreciated. We recommend individuals consider acontribution of $100 and organizations donate $500 or more.Please write your check, now,to: E
mergency Relief Fund for Brizill and Imhoff. c/o PNC Bank, 800 17thSt. NW Washington, DC 20006 Attn: Maggie
Non-cash contributions also are being accepted. Should you wish to donate a pre-paid gift card,computer, camera, any furniture, household items or clothing, you may call 202.234.6982 or send anemail to donations@dcwatch.com
We know you agree with broadcast reporter and anchor Bruce Johnson who said he has always been
“inspired” by Dorothy and Gary’s “love
of our great city and hard work to keep it safe and working for allcitizens.
“
The proof of Dorothy and Gary’s dedication is in their record of achievement:
When residents wereconcerned
about the safety of the city’s drinking water,
they made available a secret WASA databasethat detailed lead level readings for every home in the District. They advocated for community policing.They fought for more support for small businesses along neighborhood commercial corridors.After trying unsuccessfully for several years to encourage elected officials to establish a governmentweb site, Dorothy and Gary founded DCWatch.com. Begun in 1995, it was the first citywide web site topublish D.C. government information, providing copies of legislation and other documents.In other words, Dorothy Brizill and Gary Imhoff have been on the scene for nearly every importantstruggle and development in this city.
“
How they have been able to keep at it without the bi-weekly pay checks that most of us count on
makes them near saints in my book,” said Johnson.
Sometimes, even saints need help. It’s our turn to
support Dorothy and Gary.
Please
don’t
delay; make a generous donation to the E
mergency Relief Fund for Brizill and Imhoff c/oPNC Bank, 800 17th St. NW Washington, DC 20006 Attn: Maggie.
This money will help Dorothy andGary purchase items critical to getting back on their feet and reestablishing their lives.We think
you’ll agree with us, their recovery is as important to
the District of Columbia as it is to them.Sincerely,
Emergency Relief Fund for Brizill and Imhoff Advisory Committee
Robert Malson, chairMarie Drissel, treasurer
jonetta rose barras
;
Robert Brannum,
president emeritus of the D.C. Federation of Civic Associations;
Ron
Drake
, attorney;
Hebert Harris, Jr
., chairman of the DC Consumer Utility Board;
Ann Loikow;
NathanSaunders
,
president of the Washington Teachers’ Union;
Joslyn Williams,
president of the MetropolitanWashington Council AFL-CIO; and
Yolanda Woodlee
DOROTHY BRIZILL AND GARY IMHOFF HAVE A HISTORY OF ACHIEVEMENT
Over the past thirty years, Dorothy Brizill and Gary Imhoff have played an important role in the civic lifeof the District of Columbia. This is only a partial listing of their achievements
They were instrumental during the 1980s in the fight to rescue Columbia Heights from urban blight, druggangs and rampant crime. They help found the Columbia Heights Neighborhood Coalition; it was laterexpanded beyond the14th Street corridor to represent all of Columbia Heights. They started the CHNCnewsletter, which was distributed door-to-door in the community, and spurred city agencies such asDCRA, DPW, and public housing to improve the community.During the construction of Metro's Green Line, working with Columbia Heights resident BeverlyWheeler, they led the neighborhood effort that persuaded Metro not to use the same trenchconstruction method that had previously devastated the Shaw neighborhood. That move saved morethan 160 homes from being destroyed during the construction of the subway through Columbia Heightsand Petworth.They pressed for the redevelopment of more than twenty acres of city-owned land on 14th Street andColumbia Heights that had remained vacant and abandoned since the 1968 riot. Working with theirneighbors, their efforts eventually resulted in the economic revitalization of Columbia Heights andthe 14th Street corridor.In 1995, after trying unsuccessfully for several years to encourage the DC government to establish itsown web site, they founded DCWatch.com as a website focused on District government and public
policy issues. They have consistently monitored waste, fraud, corruption, and malfeasance in DCgovernment, and advocated open and transparent government, through their web site and E-maildiscussion forum, themail@dcwatch.com.They have also monitored compliance with the District's
freedom of information, open meetings, contracting, and conflict of interest laws."They have regularly monitored compliance with the District's ethics, conflict-of-interest, election, andcampaign finance laws. In 2002, they challenged Mayor Anthony A. Williams' reelection petitions, whichled the Board of Elections and Ethics and the DC Court of Appeals to reject those petitions becausethousands of the signatures were fraudulent.In 2004, they led a citywide effort that challenged irregularities in initiative petitions that werecirculated by a group trying to establish a slots gambling casino in DC, and were successful in getting theBoard of Elections and the DC Court of Appeals to reject the petitions because of those irregularities. In2006, they sued the Board of Elections and Ethics for approving another initiative that would haveestablished a slots gambling casino in DC, in violation of federal law, and prevailed in the DC Court of Appeals.
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How to donate to relief fund for Dorothy Brizill and Gary Imhoff
Letter from community activists hoping to raise funds for D.C. activists Dorothy Brizill and Gary Imhoff, who lost their home in a fire earlier this year.
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